We held an interactive Artha Global Conversation with Dr. Vasant Dhar, Professor of Data Science at New York University (NYU) and Robert A. Miller Professor at NYU Stern where he discussed his latest book “Thinking with Machines : The Brave New World of AI”. The discussion was moderated by Sridhar Ganapathy.
Describing AI as “a machine designed without a purpose other than to be intelligent”, he emphasised its paradigm altering capability stating that history would be divided into pre-ChatGPT and post-ChatGPT era.
AI offers immense benefits by lowering barriers to expertise by enabling, for the first time, the ability to interact with a machine in human languages. However, to get the most out of it one requires the right knowledge and the ability to ask the right questions. This capability in Vasant’s view would lead to a societal division on the basis of those who are amplified and those disempowered by AI.
He also shared his views on challenges with placing trust in AI and using the consequence of AI decisions as a barometer to decide on their deployment. He also pondered on questions such as whether AI should be excluded from taking up certain human activities, its obligations to humans and whether we are the pinnacle of civilisation or just an intermediary to an improved version of ourselves.